Skip to main content

Posts

Do biostimulant seed treatments boost soybean yields? New study across 103 locations in 22 states says no

Biostimulants—especially seed-applied biological products—continue to generate interest across soybean-growing regions. The promise is appealing: improved early vigor, stress tolerance, or yield, often layered on top of existing seed treatments. But do these products actually deliver under real-world farming conditions? A large, multi-state study led by Science for Success , a group of land-grant university soybean agronomists, set out to answer that question using an approach designed to mirror how farmers actually use these products. The study was published in the scientific journal Field Crops Research in December 2025. Seth Naeve, one of the study’s 28 co-authors and a University of Minnesota Extension soybean agronomist, describes the goal clearly: “We were really looking for which products worked in the most locations—and then trying to identify characteristics of environments products worked in—so that we could channel the use towards areas that would have a greater potential ...
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

Register today for the Nutrient Management & Nitrogen Conferences: February 3rd and 17th

Registration is now open for both the 2026 Nutrient Management Conference and the 2026 Nitrogen Conference! The Nutrient Management Conference  will take place in Mankato on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The  Nitrogen Conference  will be in St. Cloud on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Both conferences will also be available online.  Nutrient Management Conference Tuesday,  February 3, 2026 in Mankato, Minn.  This program explores nutrient management, crop production and environmental stewardship. Current topics and new research in nutrient management will be relevant and informative for today's agricultural producers, professionals and anyone else who appreciates high-quality, research-based information. Cost:   $20 Register:  Attend in-person or virtually (Lunch is included if you attend in-person.) Presentations: C, N, and P after subsurface installations - Lindsay Pease (University of Minnesota) Soil Harnessing biologicals: Foundational concepts for...
1 comment
Read more

Top 10 podcasts of 2025

Winter is a great time to listen to podcasts. Here are some of the best episodes from 2025 from University of Minnesota Extension’s crops team. #1 Turmoil and opportunities in Minnesota grain marketing Ed Usset, Grain Market Economist at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Farm Financial Management, joins Extension educator Dave Nicolai and Extension soybean agronomist Seth Naeve for the Minnesota CropCast Podcast’s milestone 50th episode, recorded on September 12, 2025. #2 How has nutrient management changed since 2000? To kick off the Nutrient Management Podcast in 2025, we convened five U of M experts to look back on the last quarter-century to see how nutrient management has changed. This episode, (published January 23, 2025) covers precipitation changes, nitrogen recommendations, sulfur needs, water quality, technology, and more. #3 Variable rate nitrogen: What are we trying to accomplish? On this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series, Extensio...
Post a Comment
Read more

Feeling squeezed by compaction? Register now for the virtual Northern Soil Compaction Conference

Are you feeling the squeeze from soil compaction?  Learn how to protect your yields at the virtual, four-day Northern Soil Compaction Conference ! Soil compaction is a growing concern for farmers and land managers, especially across the northern United States and southern Canada. Every pass of heavy equipment increases compaction risks, leading to lower overall yields.  Join us and explore the latest research and practical solutions from top experts in the United States and Canada. Gain actionable insights to address current compaction issues, develop long-term management strategies, and learn about the benefits of these practices for productivity and profitability.  February 3:  Causes of soil compaction February 10: Effects and symptoms of soil compaction February 17: Soil-machine equipment management options February 24: Avoidance and alleviation of compaction Certified crop advisor CEUs will be available. Register The cost for the full 4-day event is $75....
Post a Comment
Read more

Reminder! Register now for January Research Updates

UofM and NDSU agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, soil, and weed science extension faculty invite you to the Research Updates for Ag Professionals in Crookston, Waseca, Willmar, Farmington, and Lamberton during the first half of January. Come with your questions and interact with the specialists as they share their data, interpretations, and conclusions with you.   Registration Preregistration is strongly encouraged. The registration fee is $60 through December 31, and $70 at the door. For crop producers  only at Waseca and Lamberton,  use code “Standard” for free tuition thanks to support from Minnesota Corn Growers and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. On-site registration begins one hour before the start time at each location. Follow this link for online registration: Register online   Be sure to select the location you want to attend when you register. We do not offer refunds for no-shows, but do accept location changes. Simply c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reminder! Register now for Strategic Farming: Let's talk crops 2026

Liz Stahl, Extension educator - crops, and Phyllis Bongard, Educational content development and communications specialist Photo: Liz Stahl Reminder! If you haven’t done so yet, it’s time to register for the 2026 “Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops!” winter webinar series. Key issues and questions facing Minnesota farmers today around commodity crop production will be discussed through this live, interactive, online program.  Sessions will be held over Zoom, which can be accessed via your computer, phone, or other mobile device, and will run from 9:00 to 10:00 am Wednesdays, January 7 through March 25, 2026. Register once for all sessions at:  z.umn.edu/SF2026 . Sessions will be very informal and open to all interested. Each session will start with a brief presentation by the discussion leaders for the day, followed by discussion framed around farmer/participant questions on the topic. If you can’t join us live, all sessions will be recorded...
Post a Comment
Read more

Let Extension know how alfalfa insect issues are affecting you

In recent years, Minnesota alfalfa growers have been reporting increased issues with alfalfa insects to Extension staff. Especially for alfalfa weevil, there have been reports of reduced pesticide efficacy for this pest along with issues persisting past first cutting and concerns about how to manage other insects in addition to alfalfa weevil. In order to respond to these concerns and assess how widespread these issues are, University of Minnesota Extension is hosting a multi-state survey focused on alfalfa grower perspectives and needs for alfalfa weevil management and other related insects. The short 22-question online survey covering the 2021-25 growing seasons can be found at https://z.umn.edu/alfalfapestsurvey . Reduced alfalfa regrowth due to prior feeding under windrows near Morris, MN. Photo: Anthony Hanson This online survey lets you voice what issues you are seeing in the field first-hand for alfalfa pests. Participating in the survey will help determine what areas of the...
Post a Comment
Read more